Diamond Bar building scrapbook to honor soccer star Alex Morgan

DIAMOND BAR - There is no argument with saying U.S. women's Olympic soccer player Alex Morgan is the most talked about athlete in town - maybe even a hero.

But there is a debate over how to honor her.

From a Facebook post that says "give her the keys to the city" to a caller to City Hall who wanted to throw the gold medal winner a parade down Grand Avenue, the suggestions keep on coming.

Last week, the city settled on putting together a community scrapbook by spreading pages throughout the city at City Hall, the new Diamond Bar Community Library, and inside the hilltop Diamond Bar Center located across the street from the exclusive gated community The Country.

Residents have until Oct. 1 to jot down a short note or draw a colorful do-dad using felt pens provided at each station festooned with a blow-up of the London Olympics star who hails from here. In early October, the pages will be bound into a scrapbook and presented to Morgan and/or her family, most likely at a City Council meeting, said Cecilia Arellano, city spokesperson.

"We've gotten a lot of phone calls," she said. "Folks were looking for a means to send their congratulations to Alex Morgan," she said.

"The City Council came up with this idea. They felt this would be a more meaningful way for the residents to recognize her for her achievements," Arellano said.

"We are really proud she is representing Diamond Bar and Diamond Bar High School on the international stage," said Mayor Ling-Ling Chang. "She is a hometown hero."

Spreading the word on how people can leave a personal "thank you" is a tough task in this bedroom community of mostly tract homes criss-crossed by four different freeways and surrounded by blond, rolling hills.

The town is the same age as Morgan - 23 years old - the youngest in the San Gabriel Valley. Most of the community organizing comes through the schools, service clubs and by word of mouth.

Morgan graduated from Diamond Bar High School in 2007 and went on to become the leading scorer for UC Berkeley. In 2009, Morgan became the youngest member of the U.S. women's national soccer team. At the London Olympics, she scored the winning goal in the semifinal match against Canada and helped Team USA win the gold by defeating Japan.

Several of her friends described Morgan as dedicated, disciplined and someone who performs well under pressure.

Those who signed the scrapbook pages Thursday usually had some connection with the famous Diamond Bar resident, who now lives in Seattle and plays with a professional women's soccer team there.

"I love soccer, too and I'm going to go to your high school," signed Iris on a page at the library, located at 21810 Grand Ave.

"Congratulations Alex from U-6 Commissioner DB-AYSO Hugo Gonzalez," he wrote on the following page.

"I've watched her since last year when she played in the women's World Cup game versus Japan," said Kaylin Murray, 19, a Cal Poly Pomona student who signed the page. Murray's sister played AYSO soccer, as did Morgan, in Diamond Bar.

"I think it's great - a local hero," said Christine Murray, her mom. "I heard she didn't start playing soccer until she was 14. A friend of mine knows her."

Added Phyllis Soto, after leaving her "congratulations" on the page: "She is a friend of my friend's daughter. And my friend's daughter is also named Alex," she said.

An anonymous author summed up the town's pride in their young resident this way: "You are a winner to us! Winner, winner, winner!"